Barefoot Books- LadyD: The Barefoot Book of Dance Stories and Barefoot Book of Ballet Stories

Thanks to publisher Barefoot Books, we have a new collection of dance stories from around the world!

The Barefoot Book of Dance Stories

Say it with dance! This gorgeous collection will enchant young dancers with stories from eight cultures, including the Polka in the Czech Republic, Limbo in the West Indies and the Waltz in Germany. Book with CD editions include stories read by actress Juliet Stevenson.

Ages 8 and up
Written By: Jane Yolen, Heidi E.Y. Stemple
Illustrated By: Helen Cann
Narrated By: Juliet Stevenson

Hardcover with Story CD $23.99

A Melting Pot of Nonfiction and Folk

The Barefoot Book of Dance Stories is a collection of eight delightful folktales from eight cultures. Ranging from humorous and lighthearted to a bit more serious, each story has a unique plot and elicits a different emotion from readers. What holds the stories together is the common theme of dance that runs through them.

In one well-known tale from Germany, twelve princesses dance so much that they wear holes in the soles of their shoes. In a tale from Japan, the beauty of a sky maiden's dance bring tears to the eyes of a fisherman. And in another tale, from the Czech Republic, a young peasant girl forgets all of her responsibilities as she dances hand-in-hand with a fairy in the birch woods.

Here is a list of all eight stories (and the cultures/dances from which they are derived):

"The Twelve Dancing Princesses" (Germany/Waltz)
"Robe of Feathers" (Japan/Noh Dancing)
"Making the Stone Smoke" (West Indies/Limbo)
"The Shepherd's Flute" (Spain/Flamenco)
"Dancing with the Birch Fairy" (Czech Republic/Polka)
"When the Goddess Danced" (Egypt/Belly Dancing)
"Tam O'Shanter" (Scotland/Scottish Reels)
"The Little Bird Who Went Dancing" (Mali/Malian Dance)

The front matter includes an introduction to each folktale and a brief history of dance from the culture in which the story is set. The back matter contains more specific information about each dance, including a general description, notes on costumes, and even instructions on learning the dance in most cases. The book also comes with a CD, narrated by British actress

Juliet Stevenson, in case you prefer to sit back and have the stories read to you as you enjoy the beautiful illustrations by Helen Cann.

Because of its length and the content of its stories, the book is being marketed for children ages 8 and up. The book is quite magical and the illustrations have a fresh, new approach.

Do you have a favorite dance story?

A great story in the book, the one from Mali, is a charming tale of a girl, a boy who loves her "as long as the Niger River flows," and how dance eventually brings the two of them together. As with all the stories in the book, the large illustrations add color and vibrancy to the pages, woven throughout the text. With dance stories from around the globe, these vibrant illustrations include traditional dress appropriate for each culture represented, and the information about learning each dance is a fun introduction for those inspired to try. What a great gift for anyone who loves music and movement!

Photo Credit: http://liveboldandbloom.com

Starting today (and running through December), you can visit Barefoot Books on Facebook, share a video or photo of your own little dancer, and enter to win a copy of the book. (A winner will be chosen by random.) Please contact publicity@barefootbooks.com with any questions.

Another beautiful hardcover book from Barefoot Books:

The Barefoot Book of Ballet Stories

Watch the curtain rise on these dramatic and beautiful ballets. The stories in this collection feature magic and comedy, drama and adventure, and are accompanied by a brief history of classical ballet, as well as historical details of the composition, choreography and early performances of each ballet. Book with double CDs edition includes stories read by actress Juliet Stevenson.

Ages 6 and up
Written By: Jane Yolen, Heidi E.Y. Stemple
Illustrated By: Rebecca Guay
Narrated By: Juliet Stevenson

You can purchase book hardcover books w/ story CD for $23.99 each and don't forget today is the last day sale of 20% off. http://ladyd.barefootbooks.com

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Best and happy dancing,
-- LadyD (Barefoot Books Ambassador)

“You can’t get a cup of tea big enough or a book long enough to suit me.” — C. S. Lewis